Affiliate Justice of the Supreme Courtroom.
I thank the President for entrusting me with this profound duty, as
nicely as for the graciousness that he and the First Girl have proven my household
all through this course of.
I thank Senator Younger for introducing me, as he did at my listening to to serve on
the Seventh Circuit. I thank Senator Braun for his beneficiant assist. And I’m
particularly grateful to former Dean Patty O’Hara of Notre Dame Regulation College. She
employed me as a professor almost 20 years in the past and has been a mentor, colleague, and
pal ever since.
I thank the Members of this Committee—and your different colleagues within the
Senate—who’ve taken the time to fulfill with me since my nomination. It has been
a privilege to fulfill you.
As I stated once I was nominated to function a Justice, I’m used to being in a
group of 9—my household. Nothing is extra vital to me, and I’m so proud to
have them behind me.
My husband Jesse and I’ve been married for 21 years. He has been a selfless
and fantastic companion at each step alongside the best way. I as soon as requested my sister, “Why do
individuals say marriage is difficult? I believe it is easy.” She stated, “Possibly it’s best to ask
Jesse if he agrees.” I made a decision to not take her recommendation. I do know that I’m far luckier in
love than I deserve.
Jesse and I are dad and mom to seven fantastic kids. Emma is a sophomore in
school who simply would possibly comply with her dad and mom right into a profession within the regulation. Vivian got here to
us from Haiti. When she arrived, she was so weak that we had been informed she would possibly by no means
stroll or speak usually. She now deadlifts as a lot because the male athletes at our health club,
and I guarantee you that she has no bother speaking. Tess is 16, and whereas she shares her
dad and mom’ love for the liberal arts, she additionally has a math gene that appears to have skipped
her dad and mom’ technology. John Peter joined us shortly after the devastating earthquake
in Haiti, and Jesse, who introduced him residence, nonetheless describes the shock on JP’s face
when he bought off the airplane in wintertime Chicago. As soon as that shock wore off, JP
assumed the happy-go-lucky perspective that’s nonetheless his signature trait. Liam is wise,
robust, and sort, and to our delight, he nonetheless loves watching films with Mother and
Dad. Ten-year-old Juliet is already pursuing her aim of turning into an creator by
writing a number of essays and quick tales, together with one she just lately submitted for
publication. And our youngest—Benjamin, who has Down Syndrome—is the
unanimous favourite of the household.
My very own siblings are right here, some within the listening to room and a few close by. Carrie,
Megan, Eileen, Amanda, Vivian, and Michael are my oldest and dearest associates.
We have seen one another by each the completely happy and exhausting components of life, and I’m so
grateful that they’re with me now.
My dad and mom, Mike and Linda Coney, are watching from their New Orleans
residence. My father was a lawyer and my mom was a trainer, which explains how I
ended up as a regulation professor. Extra vital, my dad and mom modeled for me and my
six siblings a lifetime of service, precept, religion, and love. I bear in mind getting ready for a
grade-school spelling bee in opposition to a boy in my class. To spice up my confidence, Dad
sang, “Something boys can do, women can do higher.” At the very least as I bear in mind it, I spelled
my solution to victory.
I acquired comparable encouragement from the devoted lecturers at St. Mary’s
Dominican, my all-girls highschool in New Orleans. After I went to varsity, it
by no means occurred to me that anybody would take into account women to be much less succesful than boys.
My freshman yr, I took a literature class full of upperclassmen English majors.
After I did my first presentation—on Breakfast at Tiffany’s—I feared I had failed.
However my professor crammed me with confidence, grew to become a mentor, and—once I
graduated with a level in English—gave me Truman Capote’s collected works.
Though I thought-about graduate research in English, I made a decision my ardour for
phrases was higher suited to deciphering statutes than novels. I used to be lucky to have
fantastic authorized mentors—particularly, the judges for whom I clerked. The
legendary Decide Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit gave me my first job within the
regulation and continues to show me right now. He was by my aspect throughout my Seventh Circuit
listening to and investiture, and he’s cheering me on from his lounge now.
I additionally clerked for Justice Scalia, and like many regulation college students, I felt like I knew
the justice earlier than I ever met him, as a result of I had learn so a lot of his colourful,
accessible opinions. Greater than the model of his writing, although, it was the content material of
Justice Scalia’s reasoning that formed me. His judicial philosophy was
simple: A choose should apply the regulation as written, not because the choose needs it
had been. Typically that strategy meant reaching outcomes that he didn’t like. However as
he put it in certainly one of his greatest recognized opinions, that’s what it means to say we’ve a
authorities of legal guidelines, not of males.
Justice Scalia taught me extra than simply regulation. He was dedicated to his household,
resolute in his beliefs, and fearless of criticism. And as I embarked alone authorized
profession, I resolved to keep up that very same perspective. There’s a tendency in our
career to deal with the observe of regulation as all-consuming, whereas dropping sight of
every part else. However that makes for a shallow and unfulfilling life. I labored exhausting
as a lawyer and a professor; I owed that to my shoppers, my college students, and myself. However
I by no means let the regulation outline my id or crowd out the remainder of my life.
The same precept applies to the position of courts. Courts have a significant
duty to implement the rule of regulation, which is essential to a free society. However courts
aren’t designed to resolve each drawback or proper each incorrect in our public life. The
coverage choices and worth judgments of presidency have to be made by the political
branches elected by and accountable to the Individuals. The general public shouldn’t anticipate
courts to take action, and courts shouldn’t attempt.
That’s the strategy I’ve strived to comply with as a choose on the Seventh Circuit.
In each case, I’ve fastidiously thought-about the arguments introduced by the events,
mentioned the problems with my colleagues on the courtroom, and completed my utmost to achieve
the consequence required by the regulation, no matter my very own preferences is perhaps. I attempt to
stay aware that, whereas my courtroom decides hundreds of circumstances a yr, every case is
an important one to the events concerned. In spite of everything, circumstances aren’t like statutes,
which are sometimes named for his or her authors. Circumstances are named for the events who stand
to realize or lose in the actual world, usually by their liberty or livelihood.
After I write an opinion resolving a case, I learn each phrase from the
perspective of the dropping get together. I ask myself how would I view the choice if one
of my kids was the get together I used to be ruling in opposition to: Despite the fact that I might not just like the
consequence, would I perceive that the choice was pretty reasoned and grounded within the
regulation? That’s the usual I set for myself in each case, and it’s the usual I’ll
comply with so long as I’m a choose on any courtroom.
When the President provided this nomination, I used to be deeply honored. Nevertheless it was
not a place I had sought out, and I believed fastidiously earlier than accepting. The
affirmation course of—and the work of serving on the Courtroom if I’m confirmed—
requires sacrifices, notably from my household. I selected to just accept the nomination
as a result of I imagine deeply within the rule of regulation and the place of the Supreme Courtroom in our
Nation. I imagine Individuals of all backgrounds deserve an impartial Supreme
Courtroom that interprets our Structure and legal guidelines as they’re written. And I imagine I
can serve my nation by enjoying that position.
I come earlier than this Committee with humility concerning the duty I’ve
been requested to undertake, and with appreciation for individuals who got here earlier than me. I
was 9 years outdated when Sandra Day O’Connor grew to become the primary girl to take a seat on this
seat. She was a mannequin of grace and dignity all through her distinguished tenure on
the Courtroom. After I was 21 years outdated and simply starting my profession, Ruth Bader
Ginsburg sat on this seat. She informed the Committee, “What has turn into of me may
solely occur in America.” I’ve been nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat, however
nobody will ever take her place. I can be perpetually grateful for the trail she marked
and the life she led.
If confirmed, it will be the distinction of a lifetime to serve alongside the Chief
Justice and 7 Affiliate Justices. I like all of them and would take into account every a
valued colleague. And I’d deliver a couple of new views to the bench. Because the
President famous when he introduced my nomination, I might be the primary mom of
school-age kids to serve on the Courtroom. I might be the primary Justice to hitch the
Courtroom from the Seventh Circuit in 45 years. And I might be the one sitting Justice
who did not attend regulation college at Harvard or Yale. I’m assured that Notre Dame
will maintain its personal, and possibly I may even educate them a factor or two about soccer.
As a remaining notice, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the various Individuals from
all walks of life who’ve reached out with messages of assist over the course of
my nomination. I imagine within the energy of prayer, and it has been uplifting to listen to
that so many individuals are praying for me. I sit up for answering the
Committee’s questions over the approaching days. And if I’m lucky sufficient to be
confirmed, I pledge to faithfully and impartially discharge my duties to the American
individuals as an Affiliate Justice of the Supreme Courtroom. Thanks.
